Trace-fastening



TRACE PASTNING.

'N0 377,738. f Patented Peb. 1 L1f1888.v A

figa" NV PETERS. Phnlo-Lilhognpher, Wnshlngwn, D. C,

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. CORY, OF ALLEN, MICHIGAN;

TRAGEFASTENING.l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,738. dated February 14, 1888.

Application filed October 1, ,1887. Serial No. 251,163. (N o model.)

prevents accidental unhooking or slipping off l I from the whiffletree, and which at the lsame I ya slot, b, extending into the eye m.

time does not interfere with the easy engagement or disengagement of the trace'when desired. j

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved trace-fastening in use. Fig. 2is a plan view of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of Fig. 2. Fig. 41s a detached perspectiveview of the spring-latch detached from the cockeye. Fig. 5l is a detached perspective View of the cockeye in the formit is preferably made, of malleable iron. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section through the cockeye.

A is a trace. B is the whiffletree. C is a wliifdetree-hook of any known form in use for hooking' on the trace, and D is the so-called cockeye of the trace, adapted to engage with said hook.

This cockeye forms the subject of my improvement, and it is constructed as follows: The shank a of the cockeye is provided with c are two plates terminating at the rear end into flaring jaws d, and connected together parallel to each other by means of cross-walls e e', secured between them or preferably cast in one piece with the plate c, as shown in the drawings, all so constructed that lthe plates c, with the cross-walls c e', form a latch-bolt which is slidingly. engaged with the shank of the cockeye, as shown. Between the rear cross-wall, e', of the latch-bolt .and a stationary abutment, f, formed in the slot b of the shank, is inserted a little coil-spring, g, which projects the latch-bolt, and to retract the latch-bolt easily with the fingers when required ribs h are preferably formed on the plates'c.

I preferably form the cockeye of malleable iron in the form shown in Fig. 5, with the stationary abutment formed-partly on one leg and partly on the other leg of the shank, the legs being sufficiently spread to. permit the latch-bolt and'spring g of being. readily adj usted in position. legs together the parts are secured in place without the necessity of any rivets. By forming interlocking meeting 'faces on the parts of thestationary abutment f, as shown in Fig`.'5 said abutment is less liable to break off.

In practice, the parts being constructed as described, the jaws of the latch-bolt are made to project under the free action of the spring sufficiently over the eye im to firmly press against the hook of the whifiietree,andthereby prevent accidental disengagement.

By shoving the latch-boltback with the fingers the trace is readily engaged with or disengaged from the hook when desired.

vThis 'improved trace-fastening or safetycockeye is very simple and effective and may be used with any kind of hook in ordinary use; and, furthermore, it safely permits the use Then by pressing the two l tiov of hooks of a more simple'descriptio'nthan now in use for securing the trace ,to thewhifetree y,

by means of the ordinary cockeye.

What I claim as my invention is y 1. The herein-described safety-cockeye for trace-fastening, consisting of the combination of the cockeye withaspring latch-bolt sliding tion of the slotted malleable-iron cockeye having its shank divided in two legs and provided with the abutmentf, the sliding plates c, provided with the jaws d and cross-walls c e', integrally formed therewith, and the spring g, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,in

'presence of two witnesses, this 20th day of September, 1887. n v v t JOHN H. CORY.

Witnesses:

B. C. ALLEN, F. A. ROETHLISBERGER.k

IOO 

